From Frank Zappa to Tool to Meshuggah -- renowned musicians around the world adore his drumming. Follow him on his 2012 visit to L.A.
WHO IS MORGAN ÅGREN?
Morgan is a world-class drummer from Sweden. According to legend, Frank Zappa, a man who had the strictest taste, personally selected Morgan to be his next drummer -- before Zappa's untimely passing in the early 90s. Morgan has influenced bands like Tool and Meshuggah, and won Grammy awards on both sides of the Atlantic. He was voted #1 Fusion Drummer by Modern Drummer Magazine in 2010. He's the secret drummer that famous drummers are jealous of. Don't you think he deserves to be heard by everyone?
Here are some famous reactions to his band, Mats / Morgan:
"They played unbelievably, just unbelievably."
-Frank Zappa
"I am stunned, these guys have an extraordinary amount of talent."
-Steve Vai
"Morgan is quite simply one of the most interesting and exciting drummers I've ever heard. Rhythmically advanced and musical too. A rare combination of modern and classic."
-Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree)
"Remarkable technical expertise and playing skills."
-Bill Bruford (King Crimson)
"If Morgan would live in the US, he would be huge."
-Dweezil Zappa
"Absolutely unbelievable, they drove me right out of my mind, it was so good. Buy their albums!"
-Mike Keneally
WHY DO WE NEED YOUR HELP?
We've invested thousands of dollars on buying gear and hiring a crew to film Morgan during his week-long trip to Los Angeles. We followed Morgan everywhere, interviewing his old friends and pro musicians like Mike Keneally, Nick D'Virgilio, Milldrix Pulchers, Danny Carey of Tool, Thomas Lang, and Dave Elitch of Mars Volta.
Now it's time for Post-Production and Release. Which means we need to raise the funds for all the stuff that happens after the cameras are turned off. We're also hoping to shoot a second round of interviews -- and if we're lucky, bring Morgan back to the U.S. to eat a world famous Baked Potato.
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES:
• Original Movie Poster Painting
• Musical Scoring & Sound Design
• Additional Interviews
• Sound, Editing, Compositing, and Color Correction
• Authoring and Replication of DVDs and BluRay
• Distribution through Netflix, iTunes
• Submission to Film Festivals
All funds left over after production costs will buy a new pair of shorts for director Carl King and a mountain of Legos for Morgan's son Alvin.
FAQ
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Usually 3-4 people.
This movie would not be so dynamic and personal without the magic of filmmaker Zeke Piestrup. (http://www.15trucks.com) You may also know him as Eman Laerton of You Have Bad Taste In Music. (http://www.yhbtm.com) He describes himself as a one-man-band, but I was lucky he let me hire him. He's like a ninja with a $10k camera in his hands. He hides in the bushes, poses in uncomfortable yoga positions for long periods of time, and runs out of the room for seemingly no reason to get some unbelievable shot. He never stops rolling. It's one of those situations where you just trust someone completely. Our skills complimented each other perfectly because I'm a more technical tripod and lighting kind of guy, where he is more intuitive and captures live energy and personal moments.
I also hired Mark Thornton (http://www.arkmay.com) as System Administrator and Data Wrangler, which means he was the guy who was constantly running cards back and forth, checking signals, and transferring footage to hard drives, even while we were driving across the city. He helped with a lot of other things, too -- he's very fast and efficient, and super creative. He's a hilarious person to have around.
We also had a couple of Camera Assistants: Belén Ortiz and L. Ron McDonald. They would carry a bag of tools like white balance cards, batteries, diffusers, tripod heads, lamps, etc. At any moment we could signal for different items we needed under unpredictable conditions. It's so easy to lose a shot or ruin a moment if you're not prepared.
Quite thankful to have had them!
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That's a teaser of Morgan's new original music!
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You will receive a private online drum lesson with Morgan Ågren via Skype. All you have to do is install the Skype software and have a webcam, and Morgan will personally coordinate the rest of the details with you. Please note that the $1250 Reward Level actually includes a TWO-HOUR lesson, but due to a technical issue, the item description cannot be updated at this time.
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YES! For example, if you pledge for a Limited Reward (3 CD Pack or Sabian Cymbal) then just add the two amounts together (and be sure to select your Reward as the Limited one) -- then send us a private message and we'll be sure to send you both! Make sense?
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Actually, that $10,000 is our break-even point. We are hoping to go beyond the $10,000 Goal, because making a film-festival and Blu-Ray quality documentary is expensive and a lot of work -- especially when the people making it live in different parts of the world! We will inevitably run into unexpected production costs, so we hope to raise extra funds before the campaign closes.
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YES! You can send us any dollar amount you'd like, and then choose any available Reward that is less than that dollar amount. THANK YOU!
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YES! Unless you select No Reward.
311
Backers
$17,333
pledged of $10,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
Jun 7, 2012 -
Jul 7, 2012
(30 days)
- First created · 4 backed
- Carl King 3766 friends
- Website: carlkingdom.com
Pledge $1 or more
27 backers
Your name (or your band's name) in the credits as a Special Thanks.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $7 or more
22 backers
THE MORGAN ÅGREN MYSTERY GIFT! Morgan will personally mail you a small, special surprise, all the way from Sweden to your side of the planet. What will it be? Plus, you get your name in the credits as a Special Thanks.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $25 or more
151 backers
Copy of the DVD autographed by Morgan himself. And your name in the credits as a Special Thanks.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $29 or more
21 backers Limited (8 of 29 left)
OUT-OF-PRINT CD COLLECTION: 3 Compact Discs originally released on Morgan's own independent record label, UAE (Ultimate Audio Entertainment). "On Air With Guests" and "The Teenage Tapes" and "Radio Dada." These discs are almost SOLD OUT, and Morgan will autograph them and send them to you. Plus your name in the credits of the movie as a Special Thanks.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $35 or more
6 backers
Digital Download of the DVD-quality movie as soon as it's ready for release. (Will not include bonus footage and special features on the DVD.) Plus a Full-Quality PDF Booklet / Liner Notes. Plus the autographed DVD and your name in the credits as a Special Thanks.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $42 or more
5 backers All gone!
THE CARL KING CARE PACKAGE! Copy of "So You're A Creative Genius… Now What?" Book. Copy of "How To Sell The Whole F#@!ing Universe To Everybody… Once And For All!" Book. Copy of "How To Sell The Whole F#@!ing Universe To Everybody… Once And For All!" and "The De-Evolution of Yasmine Bleeth" CDs, both featuring Morgan Ågren on drums. Digital copies of Sci-Fi Short Story, "Cuyahoga!" and "Beyond Guitar (In Only 15 Minutes)" in Kindle Format (Kindle device not required to read). Plus an autographed 8x10 headshot of THE REAL JAMES PITTS of "James Pitts In Bondage" fame!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $50 or more
32 backers
Copy of the BluRay autographed by Morgan, plus the DVD and the Special Thanks.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $65 or more
6 backers
Digital Download of the DVD-quality AND HD / BluRay-quality movie as soon as it's ready for release. (Will not include bonus footage and special features.) Plus a Full-Quality PDF Booklet / Liner Notes. Plus the autographed DVD & BluRay and your name in the credits as a Special Thanks.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $100 or more
20 backers
A commemorative Morgan Ågren Kickstarter T-shirt designed by Swiss illustrator Angelo Gwerder, plus the BluRay, the DVD, and the Special Thanks.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $150 or more
3 backers All gone!
EIGHTEEN COMPACT DISC COLLECTION! Plus a hand-written letter from Morgan Ågren and your name in the credits as a Special Thanks. CD LIST: Kaipa "keyholder", Mats/Morgan "radio da da", Mats/Morgan Band "heat beats live", Mats/Morgan band "on air with guests", Mats/Morgan "the teenage tapes", Invisible Rays (Trey Gunn, Henry Kaiser, Morgan Ågren) Kaipa "mindrevolutions", Simon Steensland "fat again", Mats/Morgan "the music or the money?", Mats/Morgan "trends and other diseases", Mats/Morgan "live", Simon Steensland "led circus", Kings Of Belgium "tres fortes", Kaipa "in the wake of evolution" Steensland/Sandell "under öknar", Mats/Morgan Band "thanks for flying with us", Denny Walley "spare parts", Jimmy Ågren "glass finger ghost"). Only 3 Available!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $150 or more
4 backers Limited (1 of 5 left)
$150 - PERSONALIZED "GREETING CARD" 1-MINUTE DRUM SOLO: Morgan will record a personal solo drum composition (one minute in length) dedicated to YOU in his home studio. You can also request a style or feel. You will receive both a mixed version AND a download of his raw studio tracks, so you can investigate them and mix them yourself! Plus a copy of the DVD and BluRay, and Your Name in the credits as a Special Thanks.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $175 or more
1 backer Limited (5 of 6 left)
1-Hour online private music lesson with Morgan via Skype and a limited edition movie poster print. Plus the T-Shirt, the BluRay, DVD, and the Special Thanks.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $300 or more
1 backer Limited (3 of 4 left)
TWO-HOUR online private music lesson with Morgan via Skype and a limited edition movie poster print. Plus the T-Shirt, the BluRay, DVD, and the Special Thanks.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $333 or more
1 backer All gone!
Sabian 21-Inch "Hot Ride" Signature Ride Cymbal used during the movie, autographed by Morgan. Plus the TWO-HOUR Skype Music Lesson with Morgan, the T-Shirt, the BluRay, DVD, and the Special Thanks.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $1,250 or more
3 backers All gone!
Executive Producer Credit in the movie and a frayed pair of Morgan's sticks (also autographed!) that were used in the movie. Plus the 1-Hour Skype Music Lesson, the Poster, the T-Shirt, the BluRay, DVD, and the Special Thanks.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $2,000 or more
1 backer All gone!
Morgan's Personal "GigPig!" (http://gigpig.se/) Used in many of his famous videos and recordings (autographed), plus Executive Producer Credit in the movie and a frayed pair of Morgan's sticks (also autographed!) that were used in the movie. Plus a TWO-HOUR Skype Music Lesson, the Poster, the T-Shirt, the BluRay, DVD, and the Special Thanks. Shipping paid for.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
